Positional scrolling

• US 20060028445A1
• Filed: 10/14/2005
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Bathiche, Steven N., Hinckley, Kenneth P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,564,446 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/157
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04855 Interaction with scrollbars

Abstract

A method and system for electronically scrolling a document with a data processing apparatus uses an input device, e.g., a mouse, to permit position based scrolling without first accessing a scroll bar or other scrolling functionality element. In a page positional scrolling (PPS) mode useful for scrolling short distances, a displayed document is scrolled one pixel per one pixel of motion of the mouse. In a second mode (document positional scrolling—DPS), the document is scrolled a distance per pixel of mouse movement corresponding to the ratio of the document length (or width) to the page length (or width). In a further embodiment (smoothed document positional scrolling—SDPS), as the mouse is moved away from a starting position the system begins scrolling in PPS, transitions smoothly from PPS to DPS, and then continues to scroll in DPS.

Claims

1. A scrolling control system for use with a data processing device having a display, comprising:

a cursor control input device for providing, in response to user actuations of the device, control of a cursor position on said display;

at least one user actuated switch; and

control means responsive to a user actuation of said switch to enter a view scrolling mode wherein view scrolling of a document is controlled such that a discrete amount of scrolling is carried out for a discrete amount of user actuation of the cursor control input device, independent of a position of said cursor in relation to any scroll functionality elements appearing on said display.

2. A scrolling control system according to claim 1, wherein in said view scrolling mode a fixed linear relationship exists between a displacement represented by said discrete amount of user actuation and said discrete amount of scrolling.

3. A scrolling control system according to claim 1, said view scrolling mode comprising a page positional scrolling (PPS) mode wherein a one-to-one relationship exists between a displacement represented by said discrete amount of user actuation and said discrete amount of scrolling.

4. A scrolling control system according to claim 1, wherein said view scrolling mode is maintained by maintaining said user actuated switch in a closed condition, and is exited by releasing said switch.

5. A scrolling control system according to claim 1, wherein the control means inhibits display of said cursor during said scrolling mode.

6. A scrolling control system according to claim 1, wherein said cursor control input device comprises a movable member, and said discrete amount of user actuation of the device comprises a movement of the moveable member.

7. A scrolling control system according to claim 6, wherein in view said scrolling mode a fixed linear relationship exists between a displacement of the movable member in a predetermined direction, and the discrete scroll amount.

8. A scrolling control system according to claim 6, said view scrolling mode comprising a page positional scrolling (PPS) mode wherein a one-to-one relationship exists between a displacement of the movable member in a predetermined direction, and the discrete scroll amount.

9. A scrolling system according to claim 6, wherein said user actuated switch is provided on said cursor control input device.

10. A scrolling control system according to claim 6, wherein said cursor control input device comprises a computer mouse which itself constitutes said movable member.

11. A method for controlling scrolling of a document in a data processing system having a display, a user actuated switch and a cursor control input device that provides positional control of a cursor on said display in response to a user actuation of said input device, comprising:

entering a view scrolling mode in response to a user actuation of said switch; and

controlling view scrolling such that a discrete amount of scrolling is carried out for a discrete amount of user actuation of the cursor control input device, said control being independent of a position of said cursor in relation to any scroll functionality elements appearing on said display.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein in view said scrolling mode a fixed linear relationship exists between a displacement represented by said discrete amount of user actuation and said discrete amount of scrolling.

13. A method according to claim 11, said view scrolling mode comprising a page positional scrolling (PPS) mode wherein a one-to-one relationship exists between a displacement represented by said discrete amount of user actuation and said discrete amount of scrolling.

14. A method according to claim 11, further comprising:

maintaining the view scrolling mode while said user actuated switch is maintained in a closed condition; and

exiting the view scrolling mode when the switch is released.

15. A method according to claim 11, further comprising:

inhibiting display of said cursor during said view scrolling mode.

16. A method according to claim 11, wherein said cursor control input device comprises a movable member, and said user actuation of the cursor control input device comprises movement of the moveable member.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein said user actuated switch is provided on said cursor control input device.

18. A method according to claim 16, wherein said cursor control input device comprises a computer mouse which itself constitutes said movable member.

19. One or more computer readable media storing computer executable instructions for performing a method for controlling scrolling of a document in a data processing system having a display, a user actuated switch and a cursor control input device that provides positional control of a cursor on said display in response to a user actuation of said input device, said method comprising:

entering a view scrolling mode in response to a user actuation of said switch; and

controlling view scrolling such that a discrete amount of scrolling is carried out for a discrete amount of user actuation of the cursor control input device, said control being independent of a position of said cursor in relation to any scroll functionality elements appearing on said display.

20. The one or more computer readable media according to claim 19, wherein in said view scrolling mode a fixed linear relationship exists between a displacement represented by said discrete amount of user actuation and said discrete amount of scrolling.